Ring Doorbell Review

When we purchased our house two years ago, I never thought we would need to install the best wireless doorbell. The assumption then was that with the size of our house, it was possible for us to hear when somebody knocked on the door from anywhere within the house. But that was before I saw Ring Video Doorbell.

If you have fondness for the latest gadgets like I do, I am sure you will also be tempted to go for this gizmo. After all, the Ring Video Bell is much more than just a mere doorbell. Not only is it connected to the internet but it also has a speaker, microphone and a video camera that allow you to answer to the door using your smartphone from wherever you are.In this Ring doorbell review, I take a look at what it is, its key features, how it works, how it’s installed and its pros and cons. Continue reading to learn more.

How it works

The ring doorbell refers to an outdoor motion sensor and security camera which is connected to the internet and can be used as an ordinary doorbell. Thanks to its built-in camera, speaker and a microphone, you are able to talk to your visitor on the door through a phone app. You will see who’s at the door and choose whether to let them in or not.

Anytime a person rings the bell, you get alert on your smartphone. You can also configure your smartphone so that it alerts you when there is a motion within a certain radius of your house. The handiness of this devices is especially great when you spend the whole day away from home since it enables you to talk to anybody remotely from just about anywhere you are. You just need to be where there is internet coverage.

Features

Specs-wise, the ring video doorbell comes with a 5,200mAh battery. According to the Ring, this can get you through 6-12 months of regular usage. Also, the battery can operate between the temperature range of -21 and 49 degrees Celsius. The Ring camera also has infrared LEDs that are important for night vision, as well as 180-degree field-of-view.

The doorbell features a 4.9 by 2.4-inch mounting plate which attaches to just about any surface like brick, wood, vinyl and stucco. Also, the guys at Ring include a small toolkit to help you mount the device. This includes a screwdriver, a leveler, weather sealant, drill bit and other mounting hardware .the doorbell connects to the Wi-Fi of your home and also supports 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity.

Installation

With regard to installation, I found the ring door bell quite easy to install. This is mainly because of the included instructions and tools contained in the retail packaging.

STEP 1: Download the necessary app

Firstly, you need to download the necessary app for your android or iOS. This app is very instrumental since it will walk you through the registration process and also enable you set up an account as well as let you add other people who can also access your doorbell.

Note: Since the devices do not come fully charged, you will need to plug the doorbell in for some hours before you mount it to a wall.

Step 2: Mounting

If you will be mounting to the doorbell to the wood, then the backplate will screw straight in. but in case you want to fix it to a brick wall, it is important that you first drill 4 holes after you have fixed the backplate, the doorbell will slide over the top and then clip in place by means of built-in fixing hooks. After that, tighten the screws at the bottom of the gadget.

Step 3: Connect the doorbell to your home network

Connecting the doorbell to your home’s network is pretty straightforward. You need to connect directly to the Wi-Fi of the doorbell. You can do this by going to the Settings menu of your phone. After doing this you go back to the app, which detects the doorbell. After that, enter the home network details of your home and then select a network that your doorbell will connect to. Once it’s fully charged and connected, it is ready to be installed.

If you already have a doorbell that’s connected somewhere in your house to the bell, you can easily install the Ring door bell by simply connecting it to the preexisting wiring. Based on the system and voltage you have, you could have to have a diode connected to those existing wires.

After that, when the button is pressed by a guest, the existing bell will ring as usual. Thanks to this method, you won’t have to charge the existing battery because it derives its power from the mains.

You are also free to install the system as a brand new unit although you will need to buy a Ring’s wireless Chime. These chimes are connected to your home’s network like a typical doorbell and will alert you whenever someone presses the doorbell.

Step 4: Customization

After installing the unit, you can now customize it even further.

You can start by customizing the sensor motion, and you can set its sensitivity using Ring app. Typically a Ring doorbell can pick signals of movement from as far away as 30 feet. However, the app allows you to select any distance from 5 to 30 feet.

Also, the app divides the 180-degree viewing field into 6 zones, and it’s up to you to choose zones that should be detected by the sensor and the ones to be ignored.

With regards to the alerts, the app features a Smart Alert functionality which can determine when continuous or repeated happens, and only alerts you once more after the motion concludes. You may also tweak the sensitivity of the algorithm by selecting between standard, light and frequent alerts.

Video Quality

The video quality of Rind doorbell may not be the best but it gets the job done impressively. I mean, you can get quite a clear picture of the person at your door, not only during the day but also at night. It often has delays but this is down to the strength of your network. If you have a strong network, the video will be transmitted fairly fast and you will be able to see anyone coming and leaving the geo-fenced area of your home.

The Ring doorbell has never failed to emit loud chime or even send me a notification to my smartphone anytime the button is pressed. The quality of daytime video is not only clear with sharp and well-defined colors but the nighttime video is also sharp as far as 20 feet. Also, the recorded video is just as sharp as live feed.

Audio Quality

The Ring features a two-way audio communication which works reasonably well. The audio quality is such that it delivers the job just fine. The clarity is sufficient to enable you hear what your guest is saying and for them to also hear you out clearly. Sometimes however I noticed that communication was somewhat garbled but it’s not a big issue.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Easy to install

The device is quite easy to set up as it comes with instructions and how-to guides on how to proceed. Anybody can install it.

HD Video

The High-Definition video featured in the Ring Doorbell is crisp and clear even at night. The same is also for recorded video.

Cloud recording

The videos captured are stored in cloud so you can access it at any time.

Motion detection notification

This allows the gadget to pick motions that happen within a radius of 30 feet. You can also customize the Ring Doorbell further to detect motions in various distance ranges.

Cons

Short battery life

Audio could be improved

Lacks on-demand video

My Verdict

All in all, I would say that the Ring Video doorbell offers excellent service and also includes security element. Not only is it attractive and well-made, but its performance also doesn’t disappoint. However, I was a bit concerned with the Ring’s claim that the battery can last for 12 months with normal usage. Perhaps the biggest draw of this video doorbell is that it’s not just pleasing aesthetically but also operating it is quite a breeze. In fact, anybody can use the Ring video doorbell. I recommend it. I hope this Ring Video review was helpful to you. If you are looking for newer and better model then i suggest you to check Ring Pro Review.